Girls' name · since 1911

Shirlie

Since 1911, U.S. Social Security records show 1,288 babies named Shirlie, peaking in 1935. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.

#6,329 of 72,339
all-time among girls
1,288
born since 1911
1920s
peak decade

Shirlie sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 1,288 recorded since 1911.

According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Shirlie has been recorded 1,288 times among girls since 1911, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1920s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1911 to 1976.

  • #6,329 of 72,339 all-time among girls
  • 1,288 born since 1911
  • 1920s peak decade

Data updated Aug 2026

The verdict

According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Shirlie ranks #6,329 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 1,288 born since 1911, peaking in the 1920s.

#6,329 of 72,339
all-time among girls
1,288
born since 1911
1920s
peak decade
Above the archive median
All-time archive position

Shirlie's 1,288 recorded births place it above 91.24% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.

12 jurisdictions
State-record footprint

12 jurisdictions carry state-level records, led by Illinois.

Shirlie's usage pattern, beyond the headline number

Divide Shirlie's SSA record in two at 1940 and the more recent half accounts for 36% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 64%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1911, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1935 peak of 60, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.

Shirlie popularity over time

Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1911–1976

Last recorded 1976
Peak year (1935)
60
Annual births at peak, across 66 years of records
020406080 191119201927193419411948195519631976 6

Shirlie by decade

1920s is the heaviest window (398 births, 31% of the file).

1920s was Shirlie's strongest decade.

398 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 31% of all-time use.

Shirlie births by decade

Total births in each ten-year window

births

What this shows Peak: 1920s at 398 births (31% of all-time use).

Source U.S. Social Security Administration · Baby Names As of August 2026

How Shirlie compares to similarly-sized names

Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Shirlie's total volume

Shirlie vs 15 similarly-sized girls names Scatter plot of 16 data points. 0%2%4%6%8%10%12% 050100150200 New & already peakedOld name, single-era peakNew & still diversifyingLong history, steady all along Years in SSA records % of total births in the single peak year -31, 8.3%-145, 2.4%-145, 2.6%-37, 5.4%-36, 5.3%-47, 4%-81, 3%-37, 8.3%-42, 3.8%-20, 10.7%-46, 7.1%-137, 3.6%-139, 3.3%-50, 5.2%-44, 4.3%Shirlie-66, 4.7%Shirlie
Shirlie vs 15 similarly-sized girls names

Shirlie by state

Where Shirlie concentrates geographically, total births since 1911

Geographically diffuse
Top 8 states by recorded births for the name Shirlie
Rank State Visual share Births Share of total
#1 Illinois
27 2.1%
#2 California
18 1.4%
#3 Michigan
12 0.9%
#4 Tennessee
10 0.8%
#5 Oklahoma
7 0.5%
#6 Wisconsin
6 0.5%
#7 Kentucky
5 0.4%
#8 Massachusetts
5 0.4%
Illinois share of Shirlie's total US births 2.1%
Even split

27 of 1,288 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 12 reporting states.

Shirlie appears in 12 states. Explore state details →

Frequently Asked Questions

How popular is the name Shirlie?
Since 1911, Social Security records show 1,288 babies named Shirlie. Across the full SSA archive it ranks #6,329 of 72,339 girls' names by total births. The most recent recorded year was 1976. Its busiest year on record was 1935, with 60 births.
Where does Shirlie sit in the SSA name archive?
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Shirlie ranks #6,329 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). All-time ordinal matches browse popularity (total births DESC); the current ordinal uses the null SSA file. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
When was Shirlie most popular?
Shirlie was most popular in the 1920s decade with 398 total births. The single peak year was 1935.
Where is Shirlie most popular?
The top states for the name Shirlie are Illinois (27 births), California (18 births), Michigan (12 births).
How long has the name Shirlie been used?
The SSA has tracked Shirlie since 1911 -- 66 years through the most recent 1976 data.
What names are similar to Shirlie?
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Shirley, Shiloh, Shira, Shirlee, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.

What to do with Shirlie's data

  • Shirlie's decade-level peak was the 1920s (398 total births); usage has since declined to 6 in the 1970s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
  • Illinois records the most Shirlies (27 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Illinois names

Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.

Keep exploring Shirlie

Nearby Names Like Shirlie

Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Shirlie

Names with a similar number of total births

Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span

Two nationwide peer axes for Shirlie: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.

Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.

Data Sources

Data as of August 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).

According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.

Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1911–1976 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).

State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).

Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Shirlie draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.